The struggle to access basic necessities and emergency services has become a harsh reality for residents of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, as prolonged roadblocks and a pervasive internet blackout plunge the region into a state of uncertainty and hardship. This widespread disruption, now in its sixth week, stems from escalating protests and a government crackdown that has effectively severed communication lines and choked essential supply routes, leaving citizens grappling with a deepening crisis.
The Unfolding Crisis: A Life on the Line
Zaheer Iqbal’s harrowing experience in mid-June encapsulates the dire consequences of the current situation. His elder brother collapsed with chest pain in their remote hilltop village of Keri Kot, situated in the Poonch Division. Without a functioning ambulance service reaching their community, where travel typically relies on motorcycles or foot, Iqbal and his relatives were forced to improvise. They carried his ailing brother on a makeshift bed, navigating rough terrain until they reached a passable road.
The arduous journey to the nearest government hospital in Hajira, over 6 miles away, demanded an hour of travel and a significant amount of fuel. However, the hospital’s limited resources could only stabilize the patient. Doctors advised immediate transfer to a larger facility, ideally in Islamabad, approximately 87 miles away, a journey that typically takes four hours. This necessitated another desperate search for transportation and, crucially, for fuel, as local resources were scarce due to the ongoing disruptions. A cousin eventually drove over 37 miles from Kotli city to deliver five liters of petrol, enabling the critical transfer to the capital. The brother is now recovering, but his ordeal highlights the precariousness of life when basic infrastructure and services are compromised.
Roots of the Unrest: Protests and Government Response
Iqbal’s ordeal unfolded against a backdrop of widespread protests, strikes, and communication blackouts that have gripped Pakistan-administered Kashmir, officially known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), for the past six weeks. The unrest, particularly concentrated in the Poonch Division bordering India, escalated in June following the authorities’ ban on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). This coalition had been advocating for the abolition of 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, among other grievances.
The ensuing weeks saw a cascade of strikes, sit-ins, and violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel. These confrontations resulted in dozens of fatalities on both sides, intensifying the volatile atmosphere ahead of the phased legislative assembly elections, scheduled to begin on July 27. However, for many residents in the affected areas, the most significant impact has not been the electioneering or the protests themselves, but the crippling disruption to their daily lives.
A Digital Silence Descends
Since June 5, mobile data and broadband services across AJK have been suspended, plunging the region into a profound digital silence. While the impact was less acutely felt in remote villages like Keri Kot, where internet usage is minimal, the shutdown has had a devastating effect on businesses and students in larger towns and cities.
In Sudhnoti district, Malik Niaz Ahmed, president of the local traders’ association, reported severe consequences. Students have been particularly hard-hit, unable to access online resources for their education. Compounding this digital isolation is a critical shortage of government-subsidized wheat, a staple for many. Road closures have disrupted supply chains, preventing the June allocation from reaching consumers. Traders have been forced to purchase flour at exorbitant market rates, nearly three times the subsidized price, impacting the livelihoods of an estimated 100,000 people in his union council.
Masood Khan, principal of a postgraduate college in Pallandari, Poonch district, echoed these sentiments. He described the internet closure as the "single biggest obstacle to doing anything." Even the regular mobile network has become unreliable, with calls frequently dropping or suffering from such poor voice quality that conversations are nearly impossible. Khan, a veteran educator of three decades, noted that public transport has become prohibitively expensive, and essential groceries are in short supply, often requiring long queues or inflated prices.
Educational Disruption and a Lost Academic Year
The educational toll has been particularly severe. Khan’s students were midway through their entrance examinations for medical colleges across Pakistan when the remaining three papers were postponed due to the widespread disruption. More than six weeks later, they remain in limbo, their academic futures hanging precariously. "No exam means no result, which means no admission," Khan lamented, stating that for an entire generation of students, this represents a "wasted academic year."
The Poonch Division, identified as the epicenter of the ongoing protests, has endured these hardships despite heavy rains and challenging weather conditions. Government officials claim a decline in protester numbers, while JAAC activists reportedly maintain access restrictions in parts of the division.
Conflicting Realities: The Capital’s Perspective
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the impact of the disruptions manifests in different, and at times unexpected, ways. Usman Gul, a 35-year-old lawyer, had to postpone his wedding reception due to the internet shutdown. Banks and ATMs were inoperable, preventing electronic transactions, and he was forced to borrow cash from friends to meet vendor payments and cover wedding-related expenses. Vendors also cited road closures and unrest as reasons for being unable to guarantee their services.
"On one hand, the government encourages businesses, offices, traders to deploy cashless technologies," Gul observed, "But when it comes to reality on the ground, the only tool they have is to close down the internet, regardless of how badly it impacts the public."
Malik Dawood, a printing business owner in Muzaffarabad, reported his business had "completely collapsed" since the internet blackout began. His staff now travel two hours outside the city to find mobile signals for client and supplier communication. He estimates the shutdown has cost his business between 15 million and 20 million Pakistani rupees ($54,000 to $72,000) during what is typically a peak period due to election-related business. Dawood questioned the government’s approach, asking why the entire region must suffer for localized issues.
However, this widespread frustration has not translated into broad public support for JAAC in Muzaffarabad. Dawood noted that while traders had supported the movement in 2023 over wheat and electricity prices, that support has waned. He believes the current demand regarding reserved seats for refugees is a constitutional matter best resolved by parliament, not through street protests. Salma Ahmed, a salon owner in Muzaffarabad, agreed, stating that the refugee seat issue "doesn’t concern us" and has "nothing to do with our daily lives."
Government’s Counter-Narrative and Public Discontent
Government officials present a contrasting picture, asserting that life has largely returned to normal across most of the region. Deputy Commissioner Munir Qureshi stated that internet access has been maintained at a limited number of locations, including banks, and that road closures are confined to specific areas within the Poonch Division. He claimed unrestricted movement in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions, with election campaigning proceeding as planned.
This official narrative starkly contrasts with the lived experiences of residents in Poonch and Sudhnoti. They describe an absolute internet shutdown, a struggling mobile network, and fuel shortages that pose life-threatening risks, as exemplified by Iqbal’s emergency.
The upcoming elections have become a focal point for contrasting views. Zaheer Iqbal, disillusioned by the government’s response, has stated he will not vote in the upcoming election in Poonch Division, scheduled for August 10. He feels voting for those perceived as "brutalizing us" would be a betrayal.
Conversely, Malik Dawood plans to vote, believing that parliamentary solutions are paramount. For Salma Ahmed, the election is secondary to the daily struggle caused by the prolonged internet closure. "This prolonged internet closure is affecting me every single day," she said. "How long can this go on? Why make us suffer for it?"
The educational crisis looms large for Masood Khan, who questions accountability for the lost academic year. "Who will be held responsible for that?" he asked. "Who even thinks about the future of these children?" As Pakistan-administered Kashmir navigates this complex web of protests, communication blackouts, and impending elections, the human cost of prolonged disruption continues to mount, leaving many in a state of limbo.
